The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-02-17

III lIitHl, dI1Oiuihe ~ sOui hSui.
will not be fool enough to think that
YOU are making love to me. | was
cured Of boyish folly by terrible cal
amity, which | always attributed I'M
CALAMITY enough, to the power Of your
eyes. am no blind boy now. 50 YOU
must not treat mo either with pity or
familiarity which is due only to one
who is either boy or an object Of COM
passion
A luminous smile spread over her
face.
THAT is delicately put" she said,
..but have long ago repentcd OF the
harshness l showed, but never felt.
And now that strange chance has put
the power of recompense in my hands,
l am not going to cvade the response
bility. Come. You are still blind. My
father must not hear Of this fraud
The true Basilisk spoke in this threat,
and nervcd me afresh. You will stay
here. Mary Fortescue is in Pyrmont.
Plowitz will soon follow her. You
shall stay here. You shall take the
hardness out of my life. You shall stay
with me. / will make amends for
all"
Plowitz with his dagger was nothing
to this. saw that must speak plain
" at all risks. or forever hold dis
honorable peace.
If your hands, white as they are.
were free from the stains of blood; il
your heart could spare some Of its love
for a helpless girl who has no protector;
il your influence were exertcd to keep
your own people away from criminal
pursuits, then should. however panied
by this scene, at least be able to feel
honored by your affection"
was almost prepared for dagger
thrust. One glance she shot at me
which was almost killing in its sudden
intensity OF comprehension and hatred.
Then she slightly and slowly bowed her
beautiful head.
..You labor under some horrible de-
lusion," she said in a choked voice.
Then she held out her hand in such
way that l could not refuse it. She
stared me in the face, looking as noble
rs ever human being looked. If we
do not meet alone again, good-bye!'
And as she spoke the dinner-gong
sounded, and Mr.. Beaufoy and Plowitz
came in talking, and in a minute more
we were seated at the dinner table.
After dinner, not being invited by
Mr.. Beaufoy to join him, adjourned
to the drawing-room, not knowing
what to think or expect after the pre-
vious scene. The room was, to my
great relief. empty. In the midst
of course of sombre and anxious
thought. in which, man-like. l could
not avoid some self-reproach for pos
sible wrong done to awoman who had
put herself in my power, the Basilisk
came into the room.
mir. Coplestone,' she said in her
softest tone, ..my father would like to
speak to you in his study. / am GO
ing to bed. Good-night!'
| And as l in melting mood clasped
her hand, she rapidly raised mine to
her lips. and then with strange flash
| in her eyes left the room.
Invent to Mr.. Beaufoy's study, feel
ing absurdly like schoolboy about to in
terview involuntarily the head-master.
Mr.. Beaufoy was sitting at his writing
table, in the chaste light Of shaded
reading lamp.
..Sit down, Mr.. Coplcstcne, he began,
| in the tone of man who Marlborough.
| " realized just what he wanted TO say.
/ took the nearest chair, which was
at some distance from the zone OF
light thrown by the lamp. In truth ]
was sufficiently agitated by the recent
interview to wish TO avoid very close
inspection from the nnsympathetic
ewes of the benevolent coincr.
| mot there. Mr.. Coplcstone-no,
therc!' he said. with flattcring JonAo
mic. take the armchair opposite t
me-"
| The chair indicated was wooden
armchair, Of distinctly early English
and uninyiting aspect. But rs M,
host, with iron-grcy smile, indicated il
with his blanchcd foreiinger, and rost
to guide ME to it, all choice was taken
from me, and received wholesome
reminder that / need not admit every
one into the secret Of my recovered
sight.
Mr.. Beaufoy began to speak, and a
he spoke he played somewhat nervousl,
with an article on his writing-table
which looked something like close,
spring ink-bottle.
Il am sorry to have to send for vol
on the subject which / must breach,
he began. You are aware. OF course
that Miss Fortcscuc. for whose must
cal education we hayc found you s.
satisfactory guide, is away, and.
fear, likely for some time to remai
away. Under the circumstances. m,
dear Mr.. Coplestonc. do not think
am justified. with regard to you a
much as to myself, in retaining you
valuable services any longer"
Il have felt thatmyself, Mr.. Beau
foy," l interpolated, land, in fact, hay'
told Miss Beaufoy so before"
Il am aware of it, Mr.. Coplestone
and it is only what should have ex
pected of you, Now Ihave some inhu
ence, and l need not, hope, say
how very nervous he seemed to be get
ting, and how his hand trembled abou
the nk-bottle-s.that anything I can d
l will gladly do to get You quiet. SAT
and comfortable situation"
/ bowed and thanked him.
.Do not thank me. It is only wha
you well deserve. l hope you hav,
been comfortable hcre?'
Il have had much to b.
very thankful for here,'
answered, beginning to think it was to
good for truth that was to be sen
away unframed, at liberty to take wha
, steps thought fit to unrayel the mys
steries of Hanover Lodge.
HAS Hardy been attentive to your
/ he asked suddenly.
/, I gave start. and in vain endeav
, ored to conceal the traces of my fac
+ at the unexpected mention Of the nun
, dered man.
Good, he said curly. "You woul
T like to see Hardy before you CO."
And while wondered again whethe
, / had not been the victim of hideou